SEARCHFORHASKELLPRESIDENTTOBEGINWITHSELECTIONCOMMITTEE

The national search for a replacement for outgoing Haskell President Bob Martin begins in earnest this month.

When Haskell Indian Nations University President Bob Martin vacates his position this summer, he will leave behind some big shoes.

Filling them won't be easy, but Martin expects a qualified candidate to be on board before he leaves, making the transition easy for both of them.

"We'll be advertising nationwide," Martin said.

Martin announced late last month that he would step down July 1 at Haskell to take a teaching job with the University of Arizona. He met last week with officials from the Office of Indian Education Programs in Washington, D.C., to discuss the process for hiring a replacement.

"The board of regents has requested a selection committee that would consist of board of regents members; representatives from the faculty, staff and students at Haskell; and possibly members of the community," Martin said.

Among the preferred qualifications of candidates: a doctoral degree, dean's level leadership experience, experience in strategic planning at the bachelor's and graduate levels, effective teaching at the university level and scholarly research of college education.

Knowledge of federal government policy and relations and the governmental budget process also would be beneficial, as would service to the academic and American Indian communities, he said.

Preference will be given to someone of American Indian ancestry, since the position is offered through the Office of Indian Education Programs.

That Haskell has grown into more than a two-year college should be attractive to prospective candidates, said Martin, who spearheaded the effort to start baccalaureate programs at Haskell.

"A lot of people are attracted to that and the impact it had on the school and the Indian community," he said. "I'm going to encourage as many qualified people to apply as possible so we can progress to the next level of education: graduate programs."

Leonard Haskie, former president of the Navajo Nation and a Haskell regent from Sanostee, N.M., said Martin's success was due, in part, to his congenial attitude.

"When you talk about Bob, I've never seen him lose his cool," he said. "The university will be fortunate if it can get someone like him."

Haskell will begin the search for a replacement this month. Interviews by regents are expected to begin the first week of May.

-- JL Watson's phone message number is 832-7145. Her e-mail address is jwatson@ljworld.com.